Termination & Unemployment

Filing an Unemployment Claim - Kentucky

Am I eligible to receive benefits?

You must be totally or partially unemployed through no fault of your own, and you must have earned sufficient wages in your base period (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before the start date of your claim). Also, you must be able and available for full-time work.

Your weekly benefit amount will be 1.3078% of your total base period wages, except it cannot be less than $39.00 nor more than the maximum that is set by law each year. For an estimate, use the State's Weekly UI Benefit Calculator at http://www.oet.ky.gov/ui/uiben.asp.

How long will I receive these benefits?

The maximum amount of benefits payable to you within any benefit year will be the amount equal to whichever is the lesser of 26 times your weekly benefit rate, or 1/3 of your base period wages, except that your maximum amount cannot be less than fifteen 15 times your weekly benefit rate.

After I start receiving benefits, what do I have to do to remain eligible?

You must continue to file weekly. Also, you must continue to be able and available for full-time work. You must actively seek employment, while keeping a record of your work search activities (a form to help you do so can be found in the Claimant Handbook). You must register for work with the Office of Employment and Training. Finally, you must accept suitable work.

I was turned down for benefits. How do I appeal this decision?

You must appeal within a specified amount of time. Your appeal must be in writing and may be submitted by mail or in person. You can find more information on appeals here http://www.oet.ky.gov/ui/appeals/page41.asp. Also, you should keep filing your weekly claims regularly because you could only be paid for weeks you filed if you win your appeal.

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